Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Thousand Oaks, California
If you’re looking for a financial advisor in Thousand Oaks, California, we can help you narrow your search. SmartAsset conducted in-depth research to identify the top financial advisor firms in the area. Below, we detail each firm’s assets under management (AUM), fee structure and investment strategy to help you make the best decision. If you’d like additional help finding an advisor, SmartAsset’s free financial advisor matching tool connects you with up to three advisors who serve your area.
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| Rank | Financial Advisor | Assets Managed | Minimum Assets | Financial Services | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
De Groote Financial Group, LLC
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$582,681,800 | No set account minimum |
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Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 2 |
Hillcrest Financial Group
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$368,600,000 | No set account minimum |
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Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 3 |
MFA Wealth Services
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$181,044,273 | No set account minimum |
|
Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 4 |
Pacific Financial Strategies, Inc.
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$117,988,403 | No set account minimum |
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Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 5 |
Cedarstone Advisors
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$126,846,630 | $500,000 |
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Minimum Assets$500,000Financial Services
|
| 6 |
Hofer & Associates Wealth Management
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$119,167,538 | No set account minimum |
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Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Thousand Oaks, we first identified all firms registered with the SEC in the city. Next, we filtered out firms that don't offer financial planning services, those that don't serve primarily individual clients and those that have disclosures on their record. The qualifying firms were then ranked according to the following criteria:
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AUMFirms with more total assets under management are ranked higher. -
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Individual Client CountFirms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher. -
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Clients Per AdvisorFirms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher. -
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Age of FirmFirms that have been in business longer are ranked higher.
All information is obtained through public records and is updated annually after the firms’ form ADV filing. This list may include firms that have a business relationship with SmartAsset, in which SmartAsset is compensated for lead referrals. Such relationships have no impact on our rankings, and firms are included and ranked based strictly on the above criteria. SmartAsset is not a client of the aforementioned firms, and did not receive compensation for including any of the firms on the aforementioned list.
De Groote Financial Group
De Groote Financial Group is a fee-only financial advisor firm that works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as retirement plans and businesses.
The firm does not have a specific investment minimum. However, clients may have to pay fixed fees and hourly fees, as well as a percentage of assets under management, depending on the type of service.
De Groote Financial Group Background
De Groote Financial Group was founded in 2013. Today, it is still owned by Douglas C. De Groote, who also acts as the managing director of the firm.
The firm’s services include:
- Business planning
- Cash flow forecasting
- Asset allocation
- Retirement planning
- Estate planning
- Investment consulting
- Insurance needs analysis
- Risk management
De Groote Financial Group Investment Strategy
The primary type of investment used by De Groote Financial Group are exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Separate account managers, private placement funds, real estate investment trusts (REITS), bonds and individual stocks are also used.
Fundamental and technical analysis are the primary methods used to find the right investments for clients.
Hillcrest Financial Group
Hillcrest Financial Group is a fee-based firm that serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as charitable organizations.
According to the Hillcrest Financial Group’s brochure, certain supervised persons “offer insurance products under a separate commission-based arrangement.” Nevertheless, the firm’s fiduciary obligation requires them to act in the clients’ best interests.
For clients engaging in services, Hillcrest Financial Group charges fees based on assets under management. Additionally, you’ll have to pay a fixed fee for financial planning and consulting services that can range from $1,500 to $10,000.
But, if you engage in additional investment advisory services, the firm says it can “offset all or a portion of its fees for those services based upon the amount paid for the financial planning and/or consulting services.”
Hillcrest Financial Group Background
Hillcrest Financial Group filed for registration in 2021 and is owned by David Harrington and Dean Solomon.
Advisors at the firm hold multiple certifications, including certified financial planner (CFP), among other designations.
Hillcrest Financial Group Investment Strategy
The firm offers clients financial planning and consulting services that include:
- Cash Flow Forecasting
- Trust and Estate Planning
- Investment Consulting
- Insurance Planning
- Retirement Planning
- Education Planning
Like other firms, Hillcrest Financial Group says that it tailors services based on their “specific risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity constraints and other related factors relevant to the management of their portfolios.”
MFA Wealth Services
MFA Wealth Services is a fee-based firm that serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals.
As a fee-based firm, advisors at MFA Wealth Services can earn transaction-based fees in addition to client fees. This could create a potential conflict of interest. However, the firm is a fiduciary, which means it must act in the client's best interest.
The firm doesn’t have an account minimum, but it charges clients a minimum fee of $250 or $350 per hour.
Each of the firm’s advisors have earned the certified financial planner (CFP) designation, along with one of them being a certified public accountant (CPA).
MFA Wealth Services Background
Originally named Meador Financial, Inc., MFA was founded by Jerry Meador in 2002.
According to the firm's brochure, major strategic and administrative decisions are taken by Christopher D. Mattern and Michael E. Garner.
The firm mainly provides investment management and financial planning services.
MFA Wealth Services Investment Strategy
MFA considers a number of client factors when crafting its investment advice. These include time horizon, risk tolerance, expected rate of return, asset class preferences, income needs and legacy objectives.
The firm incorporates modern portfolio theory when determining asset allocations.
When implementing portfolios, MFA generally utilizes mutual funds, individual stocks and bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and covered options. It employs fundamental analysis when evaluating securities.
Pacific Financial Strategies
Pacific Financial Strategies is a fee-based firm that does not impose an account minimum. Clients include both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals.
Some advisors are also insurance agents. In these roles, they can earn sales commissions on insurance products, making the firm fee-based. This potentially poses a conflict of interest. But as an SEC-registered firm, Pacific Financial is legally required to work in clients' best interests.
Pacific Financial Strategies Background
Pacific Financial was established in 2002 by president and founder Joseph Arthur Garcia. Garcia still owns the firm to this day.
The firm specializes in portfolio management, but it also offers financial planning, pension consulting and insurance planning services.
The firm’s financial planning and consultation services may also include estate, charitable, education, business and corporate and personal tax planning.
Pacific Financial Strategies Investment Strategy
Pacific Financial employs a number of strategies in its portfolio management. These include long-term purchases, short-term purchases, trading and margin transactions. Overall, the firm believes in long-term investments and works to reduce risk while maximizing return.
Pacific Financial chiefly uses bonds, individual stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds when constructing portfolios.
Cedarstone Advisors
Cedarstone Advisors is a fee-only firm, which means that its advisors do not earn commissions from third parties. Instead, the entirety of the firm's compensation comes from client-paid fees.
There is a $500,000 minimum account size for clients and/or a quarterly investment advisory fee of at least $600. Though the firm could reduce this fee depending on certain criteria.
Investment advisory fees at Cedarstone are based on a percentage of your overall assets under management (AUM). Financial planning services come with an hourly fee rate that ranges between $300 and $500.
Cedarstone clients include both non-high-net-worth individuals and high-net-worth individuals, as well as retirement plans, businesses and charitable organizations.
Cedarstone Advisors Background
Cedarstone Advisors was founded in 2014 by firm president Steve Coker. Coker is still the principal owner of the firm today, and he is also a certified financial planner (CFP).
Clients of this firm will have access to services like general investment advice, financial planning, retirement planning, estate planning and portfolio customization.
Cedarstone Advisors Investment Strategy
The team at Cedarstone Advisors uses fundamental, technical and cyclical analysis to put together investment plans for clients.
Cedarstone mainly invests in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). However, its advisors may be open to investing in other types of securities as well.
Hofer & Associates Wealth Management
Hofer & Associates Wealth Management is a fee-based firm that serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals.
As a fee-based firm, certain members can sell financial products on a commission basis. While this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm’s fiduciary duty requires them to act in the clients’ best interests.
For clients engaging in portfolio management services, Hofer & Associates Wealth Management charges fees based on a percentage of assets under management.
The firm says that in general, Hofer & Associates Wealth Management does not require a minimum account balance. However, it can terminate your account if it’s “too small to manage effectively.”
Hofer & Associates Wealth Management Background
Hofer & Associates Wealth Management has been providing investment advisory services since 2016.
The firm is owned by Jeremy Robert Hofer.
Hofer & Associates Wealth Management offers clients a variety of services, including portfolio management services and financial planning services.
Hofer & Associates Wealth Management Investment Strategy
Hofer & Associates Wealth Management manages accounts on a discretionary or a non-discretionary basis, and can use different investment strategies.
As with other firms, it determines investment strategies based on “predefined objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon, financial information, liquidity needs and other various suitability factors.”
Hofer & Associates Wealth Management advises clients on equity securities, fixed income securities, mutual fund shares and exchange traded funds ("ETFs").
